Filling thread cutting and gripping device



Dec. 14, 1954 E. C. ALIX ET Al,

FILLING THREAD CUTTING AND GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1953 :s Shee tJS Sheet 1 ATTOREEY E. C. ALlX ET AL FILLING THREAD CUTTING AND GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1953 -Deg. 14, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ELMER c. ALlX.

HARRY A. \N\-LSON BY 7 'LKTTQRNEY Dec. 14, 1954 E. c. ALlX ET AL 2,696,344

FILLING THREAD CUTTING AND GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 7, i953 3 Sheets-Sheet s l 32. ?i9 6 125* 8 mvamoas ELMER C- ALDK HARRY A- wmsoN wmz ATT 0 BY United States Patent FILLING THREAD CUTTING AND GRlPPlNG DEVICE Elmer C. Alix, Charlton City, and Harry A. Wilson, South Spencer, Mass.

Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,524

8 Claims. (Cl. 139--264) This invention relates to magazine filling thread gripping and cutting devices for use with automatically functioning looms and has particular reference to the provision of an improved rapid functioning thread gripping and cutting device for severing the filling from a spent bobbin just prior to the ejection thereof from a shuttle and prior to the insertion of a fresh bobbin in said shuttle.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an automatically functioning filling thread gripping and cutting device which is normally held in a neutral position slightly clearing the most forward movement of the lay of the loom and which, when the filling is sufficiently spent from the bobbin whereby the feeler operates to raise one of the slides of the bobbin magazine, the said gripping and cutting device will be moved forwardly along a line of travel which angles forwardly and outwardly toward the shuttle box of the loom whereby it will automatically grip and instantaneously cut the filling thread at close proximity to the shuttle immediately following the movement of the shuttle to a transfer position in the shuttle box and as the lay of the loom approaches its most forward position just prior to the ejection of the spent bobbin from the shuttle and its replacement by a fresh bobbin, said angled line of travel being such that when the device retracts along said line it will cause the filling thread between the gripping device and the woven cloth in the loom to loosen and thereby obviate the danger of its being pulled taut and broken or prematurely pulled loosefrom the gripping device.

Another object is to provide filling thread gripping means which engages a relatively long length of filling to increase the gripping action therewith and which further embodies means for positively ejecting the filling thread from the gripping device when it is desired to release said filling thread.

Another object is to provide a filling gripping and cutting device of the above character which is resiliently supported for floating movement whereby it is relieved from shock and possible breakage if accidentally hit as, for example, by a shuttle being displaced from the shuttle box.

Another object is to provide a filling thread gripping and cutting device of the above character which is ad justable as to its position of function and as to its path of movement along an angled line of travel.

Another object is to provide a filling thread gripping and cutting device of the above character having a spring actuated pivoted cutting blade operatively latched with an upright connector which, during the conventional movement of the gripping and cutting device to a cutting position, will cause said pivoted cutter to open and retain said position until the shuttle is moved to transfer position in the shuttle box, whereby the forward movement of the lay of the loom will properly associate the filling thread with the gripping and cutting means and will cause said latched upright connector to be disengaged from the cutting blade, whereby the gripping device will automatically grip the filling thread and the cutting blade will function simultaneously to cut the filling thread just prior to the ejection of a spent bobbin from the shuttle.

Another object is to provide a filling thread gripping device which is so constructed as to have a substantially double gripping action with the filling thread and which is such as to enable it to grip and more positively hold filling threads having relatively weak tensile strength or relatively small diameters with little or no danger of causing said filling thread to break during said gripping and holding action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, as the preferred form only has been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device embodying the invention showing it in neutral position and diagrammatically illustrating its relation with associated parts of the loom;

Fig. 2 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1 showing the device moved to its forward position of operation just prior to the severing and gripping of the filling thread;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the lower end of the latch arm;

Fig. 4 is a front end elevational view of the device;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front end view of the filling thread gripping and cutting jaw mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the filling thread gripping and ejecting blade;

Fig. 88 of Fig. l and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the cutter stand showing a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken as on line 1010 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Prior art devices for use with automatic looms for gripping and cutting the filling thread from a spent bobbin just prior to its ejection from the shuttle functioned with a progressively slow and during a gradual movement of the device in a direction away from the lay of the loom and in a direction away from the filling thread to be cut with the result that the device often failed to grip and cut the thread prior to the ejection of the spent bobbin from the shuttle. Another difiiculty was that of having the device exert a pulling action on the filling thread after it had been gripped and cut and during the retraction of the device from its cutting position with the result that the filling thread would break or be pulled out of the gripping device prior to its being subsequently cut at a location near the edge of the cloth.

It, therefore, is one of the primary objects of this invention to overcome the above difiiculties by providing a filling thread cutting and gripping device which moves to its desired position of function along a line of travel which is angled outwardly with respect to the edge of the cloth and toward the shuttle and which, after the filling thread is positively gripped and severed, will move rearwarclly along said angled path of travel toward the edge of the cloth, whereby the filling thread between the cloth and the gripping device will loosen and thereby avoid possible breakage thereof or its being pulled out of the gripping device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises a lever 10 pivotally connected to a stub shaft 11 carried by the cutter stand 12. The lever 10 has a connector arm 13 pivotally connected thereto, as illustrated at 14. The connector arm is pivotally attached adjacent its opposed end, as illustrated at 15, to an exten -sion 16 carried by a collar 17 secured to the preventer shaft 18 as by a clamp screw or the like 19.

The parts described above are of the conventional type now used with automatically functioning looms.

A coupling member 15' having an upper bifurcated portion 16' is mounted on said stub shaft 11 in straddling relation with the lever 10. The said coupling mem- 8 IS an enlarged sectional view taken as on line ber has a shelf 17 on the side thereof opposite the lever in aligned relation with a socket portion 18 formed on the adjacent end of the lever 10, and in which a spring 19' is supported for engagement with said shelf 17'. A threaded stop member 20 is carried by the coupling member for engaging the lever it) on the side thereof opposite the shelf 17 and which is adjustable to vary the tension of the spring 19' and to vary the angle between said lever 10 and said coupling member 1%. The said coupling member 15 is also provided with a depending bifurcated portion 21 in substantially right angular relation with the upper bifurcated portion 16. The depending bifurcated portion is perforated to receive a pivot stud 22, to which is pivotally connected a depending support 23 having its upper end lying between the bifurcated portion 21. The depending support 23 has an outwardly extending shelf 24 and the coupling member 1E also has an outwardly extending shelf 25 directly above the shelf 24. Intermediate the shelves 24 and 25 there is positioned a coil spring 26 for normally urging the depending support in a direction toward the cutter stand 12. The depending support 23 has a cam plate 26 secuerd thereto by screws or the like 27 and which is angularly disposed inwardly and outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lever 10. The depending support 23 has an angularly offset lower portion 28 provided on one side thereof with a recessed area 29 and on its opposed side with a recessed area 30 forming opposed side bearing surfaces. The side bearing surface of the recessed area 29 has in engagement therewith a gripping jaw 31 pivotally connected to a pivot pin 32 carried by said lower end portion 28. Directly superimposed on said gripping jaw 31, there is a pressure plate 33 loosely mounted on the pivot pin 32 and having a perforated portion adjacent its forward end loosely fitting on a stub pin 34. The stub pin 34 is provided inwardly with an enlarged section 35 for holding said pressure plate 33 in proper spaced relation with the side bearing surface of the recessed area 29. The pressure plate 33 is resiliently urged into engagement with the gripping jaw 31 which, in turn, is urged into frictional engagement with the side bearing surface 29 of the recessed area by a leaf spring 36 con nected with the depending support by screws or the like 37. The said gripping jaw 31 has an extension 39 on the opposed side of the pivot pin 32 having a latch pin 40 carried thereby and adapted to be engaged by the hook shaped end 41 of an upright latch arm 42. The latch arm 42 is connected to a block 43 by a bolt 44 having a coil spring 45 intermediate the upper end of said latch arm and nuts 46 carried by the bolt 44. This arrangement provides a yielding support for the latch arm. The block 43 is pivotally connected to a pin 47 eccentrically disposed with respect to the end of a bolt 4-8 threadedly attached to the cutter stand 12 and secured in adjustable position thereon by a clamp nut 49. The latch arm 42 is resiliently urged about its pivot pin 47 toward the latch pin 40 carried by the extension 39 of the gripping jaw 31 by a coil spring 50. The coil spring is connected adjacent one end thereof to the depending support 23 and adjacent its opposed end to said upright latch arm. This spring 50 retains the hook shaped end portion 41 of the upright latch arm in gripping relation with the latch pin 40 and the said latch arm normally assumes its latched relation with the pin 4% when the device is in its initial neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the device is swung forwardly about the stub shaft 11 the latch arm is adapted to exert a pulling action on the latch pin 40 thereby causing the gripping jaw 31 to move irl a direction downwardly and outwardly from between the pressure plate 33 and the side bearing surface of the recessed area 29. This pulling action is against the resilient action of a coil spring 51 which is attached at 52 with the depending support 23 and at 53 with a shelf 54 carried by the extension 49. The spring 51 normally urges the gripping jaw 31 in a direction inwardly between the pressure plate 33 and the side hearing surface of the recessed area 29 or into closed gripping position. The said extension 39 is provided with an angularly disposed end 55 adapted to limit the rearward movement of the upright latch arm 42 when it is disengaged from the latch pin 40. This function is brought about by the engagement of the lower end 56 of said latch arm 42 with suitable means carried by the lay of the loom as the lay moves to its outermost position. This engagement of the lower end 56 is such as to cause the hook-shaped portion'41 of the latch arm 42 to be moved out of engagement with the latch pin 40 and thereby allow the coil spring 51 to move the gripping jaw to closed position. This takes place when the device is moved to its most forward position with respect to the lay of the loom whereby the filling thread 57 will be automatically positioned between the gripping jaw and the lower edge of the pressure plate 33.

Also pivoted to the pivot pin 32 is a cutting blade 53 which is disposed in superimposed relation with a fixed cutting plate 59 positioned within the recessed area 30. The cutting blade 58 has an extension portion 60 similar to the extension portion 39 and which is also associated with the latch pin 40. Therefore, when the gripping jaw 31 is moved outwardly from between the pressure plate 33 and the side bearing surface of the recessed area 29 the cutting blade 58 will simultaneously be moved to an open position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby the filling thread 57 will be located between said pivoted cutting blade 58 and the lower edge of the fixed cutting plate 59. Similar to the function of the gripping jaw, when the latch arm 42 is disengaged from the latch pin 40, the coil spring 51 will cause the cutting blade 58 to move to a closed position, whereby the filling thread will be severed simultaneous to the gripping of said thread by the gripping jaw 31.

The gripping jaw 31 has an integral filling thread ejector portion 60 formed thereon and, when the gripping jaw 31 is moved to an open position, as illustrated in Fig. 7, is adapted to force the gripped end of the severed filling thread outwardly from between the pressure plate 33 and the side bearing surface of the recessed area 29. This, therefore, provides positive means for forcing said thrad outwardly when it is desired that it be released and is a function which takes place after the filling thread hlas hbeen severed at a location adjacent the edge of the c ot Due to the fact that the upright latch arm 42 is pivoted to the eccentric pin 47 and that the position of the eccentric pin 47 may be varied by the rotation of the bolt i8, the effective length of the latch arm may be increased or decreased as desired. This arrangement, therefore, provides adjustable means for controlling the proper opening of the cutting blade 53 and the gripping jaw 31 when the device is moved to gripping and cutting position.

Mounted on the stub shaft 11 there is a depending arm 61 secured in desired position on said stub shaft 11 by a set screw or the like 62. On the depending arm 61 there is a contact portion 63 resiliently mounted in a sleeve 64 attached to the arm 61 by a threaded portion extending through said arm. Nuts 65 are threaded on to an inner reduced threaded portion carried by the contact portion and by which the tension of the resilient means may be varied. The contact portion 63 is adapted to engage the cam plate 26, as shown in Fig. 5. The cam plate 26 is angled in a direction outwardly and forwardly with respect to the line of the edge of the cloth and toward the shuttle box 67 whereby the depending support 23 will move forwardly and outwardly under the resilient action of the coil spring 26. This causes the cutting and gripping device to move along a line of travel in a direction forwardly and outwardly with respect to the edge of the cloth. This outward movement is illustrated by the dot and dash line 71 and the dash lines 66 in Fig. 5, and thereby causes the cutting blade 58 to move into cutting relation with the filling thread 57 adjacent the shuttle whereby the device will simultaneously cut and grip the filling thread. When moved to its normal neutral position, the cutting and gripping device will move rearwardly and inwardly toward the edge of the cloth as shown by the full lines to shorten the distance between said cutting and gripping device and said edge of the cloth whereby the severed end of the filling thread will loosen and be prevented from breakage or from being pulled out of the gripping device.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows:

The gripping and cutting mechanism, as shown in Fig. l, is normally held in a neutral position slightly clearing the most forward movement of the lay of the loom during the normal operation thereof. When in this position the cutting blade 58 and the gripping jaw 31 are in closed position.

When the filling thread is sufficiently spent from the bobbin in the shuttle whereby the feeler mechanism op- APQ.

erates to raise one of the convention slides of the bobbin magazine, a catch on the top end of the slide engages with a latch carried by the preventer shaft 18 and causes said shaft 18 to rotate in a clockwise direction. This mechanism is of the conventional type and is, therefore, not shown in the drawings. As the preventer shaft 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction it, in turn, causes the offset portion 16 on the collar 17 to pull up the connector arm 13. This causes the lever to move the depending support 23 and filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism forwardly toward the lay of the loom. As this movement takes place, the upright latch arm 42 which has its hook-shaped end 41 in latched relation with the pin 40 carried by the pivoted gripping jaw 31 and cutting blade 58 will cause the cutting blade 58 and the gripping jaw 31 to move downwardly about the pivot pin 32 to an open position such as illustrated in Fig. 2. This forward movement of the filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism is completed while the shuttle is on its way across the lay of the loom to transferring position in the shuttle box 67. The shuttle in said shuttle box is illustrated at 68. As the shuttle 68 enters the shuttle box 67 and the lay of the loom is moving forwardly, the filling thread 57 is automatically drawn fairly taut between the edge of the cloth 69 and the shuttle 68 in the shuttle box 67. As this takes place the filling gripping and cutting device is held stationary in its most forward position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Continued forward movement of the lay of the loom automatically moves the filling thread into positive co-operative position with the filling thread gripping and cutting device whereby, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a portion 70 of the lay of the loom will engage the end 56 of the upright latch arm and move said arm rearwardly an amount sufficient to force the hook-shaped portion 41 out of engagement with the pin 40 whereby the spring 51 will instantaneously close the cutting blade 58 to cause said blade to function co-operatively with the fixed cutting plate 59 to sever said filling thread. Simultaneous to this function of the cutting blade the gripping jaw 31, due to the angular relation of the filling thread between the edge of the cloth 69 and the shuttle 68, will force the filling thread upwardly between it and the pressure plate 33 and the side bearing surface of the recessed area 29 whereby the filling thread will be firmly gripped under the resilient action of the blade spring 36, as shown in Fig. 6. Immediately when this gripping action takes place, the cutting blade 53 and fixed cutting plate 59 will sever the filling thread. This gripping and cutting operation takes place while the depending support 23 and the gripping and cutting mechanism is held at its most forward position and just prior to the ejection of the spent bobbin from the shuttle 68 and the replacement thereof by a fresh bobbin. It is particularly pointed out that as the depending support moves forwardly, as described above, the cam plate 26 carried thereby and which is angled forwardly and outwardly with respect to the edge of the cloth and toward the shuttle box 67 will ride on the resiliently yielding end portion 63 of the contact portion 64. This will cause the depending support 23 and the cutting and gripping device carried thereby to move forwardly along a line of travel 71 as illustrated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 5. This will cause the cutting and gripping device to be moved to a position closer to the shuttle 68 and will grip and cut the filling thread 57 normally at a position closer to said shuttle than would be possible if the cutting and gripping device were moved forwardly along a straight line.

Continued operation of the loom causes the preventer shaft 18 to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction whereby the connector arm 13 will move the lever 10 in adownward direction and simultaneously move the depending support 23 and the filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism rearwardly in a direction away from the lay of the loom to its initial neutral position whereby the coil spring 50 will come into play to move the hookshaped portion 41 again into latched relation with the pin 40 and ready to repeat its function as described above. As the depending support 23 and the filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism moves rearwardly, the cam plate 26 engaging the end 63 of the contact portion 64 will move said depending support 23 and the filling threadgripping and cutting mechanism inwardly along the angled line of travel 71 and cause the filling thread between the gripping device and edge of the cloth 6 to loosen whereby it will be relieved from possible ten= sion, strain and breakage or from being pulled out of the gripping and cutting device. This, therefore, enables the device to function more positively with filling threads having a relatively weak tensile strength or relatively small diameter.

The ejector portion 60 of the gripping jaw 31, as shown in Fig. 7, after the filling thread has been severed by conventional cutting mechanism adjacent the edge of the cloth and as the cutting and gripping mechanism is again moved forwardly, as described above, will force the filling thread out from between the pressure plate 33 and the side surface of the recessed area 29. This prepares the device to repeat its operation. To insure that the filling thread will not be severed by the gripping jaw 31 said gripping jaw is provided with a curved upper face as shown at 73 in Fig. 6.

The angled relation of the longitudinal axis of the lever 10 and the longitudinal axis of the depending support 23 may be varied by adjustment of the stop screw 20 under the action of the coil spring 19 which tends to hold said stop screw in engagement with the lever 10. This adjustment provides means for'varying the extent of forward movement of the filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism and also enables the said depending support 23 and cutting and gripping mechanism to be free to yield to avoid breakage thereof when subjected to shock or strain, such as might result from a shuttle accidentally flying out the shuttle box. The coil spring 26' further introduces the yielding action to function co-operatively with the coil spring 19' in such instances. The coil spring 45 further introduces a yielding action to relieve the upright latch arm for possible shock and strain.

The resiliently supported cam contact end portion 63 also provides for relieving shock and strain which might be directed to the device and the cam plate 26 is further formed resilient to produce a similar result.

The eccentric adjustment for the pivot pin 47, as set forth above, provides for varying the effective length of the upright latch arm and provides an adjustment whereby the extent of opening of the cutting blade and gripping jaw may be controlled.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a modification of the invention wherein, to compensate for possible change of angle of the upright connector arm 42 resulting from the adjustment of the eccentric pin 47, the cutter stand 12 is provided with a longitudinal slot 75 through which the bolt 48 is extended. The bolt 48 is provided with a nut 76 which functions co-operatively with the nut 49 to lock the said bolt in adjusted position. To prevent the nut 76 from turning when the nut 47 is loosened and tightened, the cutter stand is provided with a ledge 77 which engages a flat surface of the nut 76. This enables the eccentric adjusting pin 47 to be turned as described above and further be moved in a direction forwardly or rearwardly of the longitudinal slot 75 to provide a more universal adjustment of the connector arm 42.

The line of travel 71 of the filling thread gripping and cutting mechanism may also be varied by altering the angle of the cam plate 26 and by loosening the set screw 62 and adjusting the depending arm rearwardly or forwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stub shaft 11.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, efficient and positively functioning means are provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A filling thread cutting device for use with an automatically functioning loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom, said support having a cutting blade and a gripping blade pivotally connected with the lower end thereof, a fixed blade on said support positioned to function cooperatively with the pivoted blade, resilient means for normally moving said pivoted blade and said pivoted gripping jaw from open to closed position, said pivoted gripping jaw overlying a part of said support and having a pressure plate on the opposed side thereof loosely attached to said support, resilient means for exerting a pressure on said pressure plate and on said gripping jaw, contact means for connecting said pivoted gripping jaw to the pivoted cutting blade, an upright latch arm pivotally connected to an adjacent part of the loom and having a hook-shaped portion for releasably engaging the contact means carried by the pivoted jaw and the pivoted cutting blade, resilient means for retaining said latch arm in latched relation with the contact means whereby forward movement of the support will cause said upright latch arm to move the pivoted cutting blade and pivoted gripping jaw to open position, said latch arm being adapted to be forced out of latched relation with the contact means to permit said pivoted cutting blade and gripping jaw to move to closed position when said support and associated parts are at a given forward position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a lever pivotally connected to an adjacent portion of a loom, a bracket on said lever pivot, a support pivotally connected to said bracket with the axis of said pivot being substantially at right'angular relation with the lever pivot, said bracket having a yielding connection with the lever and said support having a yielding connection with the bracket, a pair of cutting blades secured to said support in overlying relation with each other, one of said cutting blades being pivotally connected to said support, a gripping jaw pivotally connected to said support adjacent the cutting blade and in overlying relation with an opposed side surface of the support, a pressure plate loosely connected with the support in overlying relation with the gripping jaw, resilient means carried by said support yieldingly engaging the pressure plate, a resilient member for normally holding said cutting blade and said gripping jaw in closed position, a contact member effectively connecting said pivoted blade and gripping jaw on the side thereof opposite their pivotal connection with the support, an upright latch arm pivotally connected to an adjacent part of the loom having a hook-shaped portion for latching engagement with the contact member, resilient means for retaining said upright latch arm in said latched relation with said contact member, said upright latch arm being adapted to move the pivoted cutting blade and gripping jaw to an open position as the support and bracket move forwardly about the lever pivot and said latch arm being adapted to be forced out of latched relation with the contact member to permit the resilient member 'to move said pivoted blade and gripping jaw to closed position.

3. A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with an automatically functioning loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom, said support having a cutting blade and a gripping jaw pivotally connected with the lower end thereof, a fixed blade secured to said support to function co-operatively with the pivoted blade, resilient means for normally moving said pivoted blade and said pivoted gripping jaw to a closed position, said pivoted gripping'jaw overlying a part of said support and having a pressure plate overlying the opposed side thereof and loosely attached to said support, resilient means for exerting a pressure on said pressure plate and on said gripping jaw, a pin effectively connecting said pivoted gripping jaw to the pivoted cutting blade, an upright latch arm pivotally connected to an adjacent part of the loom and having a hook-shaped portion for releasably engaging the pin carried by the pivoted jaw and the pivoted cutting blade, resilient means for retaining said latch arm in latched relation with the pin whereby forward movement of the support on its pivot will cause said upright latch arm to move the pivoted cutting blade and pivoted gripping jaw to open position, means for forcing said latch arm out of latched relation with the pin to permit said pivoted cutting blade and gripping jaw to move to closed position when said support and associated parts are at a given forward position, said pivoted gripping jaw having an integral ejector portion normally lying between the adjacent side surface of the support and the pressure plate for forcing the end of a filling thread which has been gripped by the gripping jaw outwardly from between said pressure plate and the adjacent side surface of the support when it is desired to release said filling thread.

A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with an automatically functioning loom and adapted to be operated by the lay of the loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom for movement toward the lay of the loom and far movement in a direction substantially normal to said first movement, a fixed cutting blade secured adjacent the lower end of the support, a movable cutting blade pivotal- 1y secured to said support with its cutting edge movable transversely of the cutting edge of the fixed blade, a gripping jaw pivotally mounted on the pivot of the movable cutting blade and overlying the side surface of the support opposite the fixed cutting blade, a pressure plate loosely connected with the support in overlying relation with the pivoted gripping jaw, means for resiliently exerting a pressure on said pressure plate to, in turn, cause a pressure to be exerted on the gripping jaw, resilient means for normally urging said movable cutting blade and the gripping jaw to closed position, said movable cutting blade and said gripping jaw having portions thereof extending outwardly of the pivot on the opposed side thereof, a pin effectively connecting said portions, an upright latch arm pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom and having a latch portion for detachable connection with the pin, resilient means having one end thereof secured to the support and its opposed end secured to the upright latch arm for normally urging the latch portion of said arm into latched relation with the pin and being adapted to cause the movable cutting blade and gripping jaw to swing open about their pivotal connection with the support when the support and associated parts thereof are moved for- War ly toward the lay of the loom, said support having a cam plate thereon, a contact member engaging said cam plate for causing said support to move along an angular path of travel as said support and the associated parts of the device are moved to said forward position and said latch arm having means adapted to be engaged by a part carried by the lay of the loom for forcing said latch arm out of latched relation with the pin to permit the movable cutting blade and gripping jaw to close rapidly when said device is held at a given predetermined forward position.

5. A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with automatically functioning loom and adapted to be operated by the lay of the loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom for movement toward the lay of the loom and for movement in a direction substantially normal to said first movement, a fixed cutting blade secured adjacent the lower end of the support, a movable cutting blade pivotally secured to said support with its cutting edge movable transversely of the cutting edge of the fixed blade, a gripping jaw pivotally mounted on the pivot of the movable cutting blade and overlying the side surface of the support opposite the fixed cutting blade, a pressure plate loosely connected with the support in overlying relation with the pivoted gripping jaw, means for resiliently exerting a pressure on said pressure plate to, in turn, cause a pressure to be exerted on the gripping jaw, resilient means for normally urging said movable cutting blade and the gripping jaw to closed position, said movable cutting blade and said gripping jaw having portions thereof extending outwardly of the pivot on the opposed side thereof, a pin effectively connecting said movable cutting blade with the gripping jaw, an upright latch arm pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom and having a latch portion for detachable connection with the pin, resilient means having one end thereof secured to the support and its opposed end secured to the upright latch arm for normally urging the latch portion of said arm into latched relation with the pin and being adapted to cause the movable cutting blade and gripping jaw to swing open about their pivotal connection with the support when the support and associated parts of the device are moved forwardly toward the lay of the loom, said support ing cam plate thereon, a contact member engaging l cam plate for causing said support to move along gular path of travel as said support and the associated parts thereof are moved to said forward position, said latch arm having means adapted to be engaged by a part carried by the lay of the loom for forcing said latch arm out of latched relation with the pin to permit the movable cutting blade and gripping jaw to close rapidly when said device is held at a given predetermined forward position, said gripping jaw having an ejector portion thereon which, when said gripping jaw is initially open in response to the forward movement of the device, will automatically cause a filling thread previously gripped by said gripping jaw to be released.

6. A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with an automatically functioning loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom, said support having a cutting blade on one side thereof and a gripping jaw on the opposed side thereof and pivotally connected thereto, means for moving said cutting blade and gripping jaw forwardly along an angled path of movement and outwardly toward the lay of the loom, means for opening said cutting blade and gripping jaw during said forward movement and means for closing said cutting blade and gripping jaw at a predetermined forward position, said gripping jaw having a filling thread ejector portion for forcing the gripped portion of the filling thread out of the gripping device when it is desired to subsequently release said filling thread.

7. A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with an automatically functioning loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom, a gripping jaw pivotally connected with the lower end of said support in overlying relation with a side surface thereof, a resiliently supported free floating bearing plate in overlying relation with the gripping jaw, a cutting blade on the side of the lower end of the support opposed to the gripping jaw, means for moving said cutting blade and said gripping jaw forwardly toward the lay of the loom, means for opening said cutting blade and gripping jaw during said forward movement, means for releasing said opening means, and means functioning independently of said opening means for closing said cutting blade and jaw at a predetermined forward position to cause said cutting blade to sever the filling thread and said gripping jaw to force a portion of filling thread grasped thereby upwardly between the adjacent side surface of the support and the overlying bearing plate.

8. A filling thread cutting and gripping device for use with an automatically functioning loom, said device comprising a support pivotally connected with an adjacent part of the loom, a gripping jaw pivotally connected with the lower end of said support in overlying relation with a side surface thereof, a resiliently supported free floating bearing plate in overlying relation with the gripping jaw, a cutting blade on the side of the lower end of the support opposed to the gripping jaw, means for moving said cutting blade and said gripping jaw forwardly toward the lay of the loom, means for opening said cutting blade and gripping jaw during said forward movement, means for releasing said opening means, and means functioning independently of said opening means for closing said cutting blade and jaw at a predetermined forward position to cause said cutting blade to sever the filling thread 2 and said gripping jaw to force a portion of filling thread grasped thereby upwardly between the adjacent side surface of the support and the overlying bearing plate, said gripping jaw having a filling thread ejector portion for forcing the gripped portion of the filling thread out of the gripping device when it is desired to subsequently release said filling thread.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,552,010 Rhoades Sept. 1, 1925 2,326,862 Irons Aug. 17, 1943 2,326,863 Jennings Aug. 17, 1943 2,446,444 Turner Aug. 3, 1948 2,540,912 Rhodes Feb. 6. 1951 

